James required very little sleep and around midnight as the candle burned down he thought about going to bed. But first he checked his mail. A new mail from the interviewer revealed a young woman with beautiful hands thanking him for accepting her invitation. She had suggested a week from the coming Monday and James checked the calendar seeing nothing to suggest not accepting that date.
James made a note of the date and a week later while sitting in the chapel meditating he was alerted to the arrival of the news lady. James made his way to the library where he had instructed her to meet him. Walking in he saw her sitting at his table where his computer and notes were laying for anyone to see. James was not secretive and when he came closer she rose to greet him. She had a nice smile and after a sign greeting handed him her card.
Her name was Mercy Atwood from New York City. It was difficult for him to guess her age but she appeared middle aged. She was dressed nicely but very conservatively without any makeup on to speak of. Her short blonde hair was becoming and a really nice gold cross hung around her neck. James was not blind to the fact she was a really nice looking lady. He had chosen his way in life and celibacy was part of it. However, even at his advanced age he certainly appreciated a nice looking woman and Mercy when she signed smiled with pearly white teeth. He noticed she was perfect for the job and had a special personality for interviewing.
Her first question was typical asking him if he was really 141 years old. He come back asked her why he would lie about something like that. She laughed without sound and he too cracked a big grin. That apparently broke the ice and from then on they had a really nice conversation.
She took out a notebook and asked him if they could begin with some personal questions rather than the standard questions he was so used to. He nodded his agreement and she asked:
“As my research shows you were around 70 years old when you had your first contact with God. Upon reflection St. James do you have any regrets about where your life was and where it is now?”
“The only regret I have presently is that I'm unable to pass on to Heaven where having glimpsed the utopia, I'm stuck here for the duration of time that God has commanded me to endure. I'm not sure endure is the right word as I'm very happy doing what He commanded.”
“I realize,” she signed, “that you've been asked this question so many times over the years but I'd like to hear from you where once you had ears and could hear all the sounds how do you feel about losing your hearing?”
“Ms Atwood, as you know I've lived here at the abbey and in the same room for over a hundred years. Before that I lived in a rather small farming town. I did go to a medium sized city for my college education but I was so wrapped up in studying that I didn't really notice all the noise around me. God told me I would lose my hearing so with that in mind I made a worldwide trip just to see and hear sounds. To answer your question, I've no regrets about losing my hearing except to listen to nature sounds like wind or a heavy rain coming down. Probably the lost sounds of roosters in the morning I miss most.”
“Also, on a more serious note, the noise I experienced around the world was at a level that few could really tolerate. I can tell you this; today's world has more happy people than the world of old when we had hearing. You live in New York City, this is what I remember being there standing on the street in downtown. I could see flags waving but not a sound of wind anywhere. Vehicles made so much noise that it made talking difficult. Voices were heard but not understood; emergency vehicles were ear piercing; taxis sounded like a symphony of horns blowing; and a few radicals were chanting trying to overcome the city sounds. No Ms. Atwood, hearing is one sense we can do without. Not sure about the other senses though,” he signed with a glint in his eye.
“Do you think that you’ve made a difference in how humans view the Hereafter and the idea there is in fact a God?”
“I’d like to think so. What I do know is since the time of creation, God has worked hard to lead his children down a righteous path. He’s punished the non-believers and rewarded the faithful with the life after death in the Kingdom of Heaven. The one thing, among many, He doesn’t like is greed, wealth and the idea of accumulation of material items. Humans, most or some, not all, are looking for the easy way of life. No one can tell me that a farmer has an easy life. We’ve created a society of greed, wealth and power by using God’s valuable resources, to such an end, abuse can hardly be used as the adjective to describe man’s rape of resources. I could go on and on but let’s move on to another of your questions,” he signed.
“You mentioned, in great detail, your experience at one of the levels of Heaven you visited. I recall you saw your parents as you remembered them in your town. It stuck in my mind you saw them at the feed store and I’m wondering if you could expand on the details you saw and remembered at that time.”
“What I remember is a vivid moving picture of what I most wanted to see of my early life with my parents; like a dream. The day was perfect. Clear blue skies, no wind, warm and idealism to the extreme pleasure. At that moment I would have traded anything to spend a few minutes in that atmosphere. To smell my mother again, to smell the dust from the traffic moving through the dirt streets, to smell the feed store: the alfalfa, leather goods and of course the smell of animal waste. To hear the laughter and view the smiles of the store owner and his cute daughter who was, by the way, the same age as me. That Mercy is only part of what I saw and felt that day, but it gives you a good idea of what awaits us at the end of our life.”
“Staying on the personal side of the interview St. James, what do you see as your future role in presenting a further view of life after death?”
“That’s a good question Mercy. God has promised me to view and experience all levels of Heaven. Then I will continue writing for all who are interested or curious. What He doesn’t want me to do is like when the disciples went around the land preaching God’s words. He wants me to stay here and write what I think people ought to see the here-after. When I write I feel younger than the years before. Instead of feeling older, I actually feel younger as time goes by.”
“How would you like a walk and get a bit of fresh air. We might get lucky and a few birds will be seen flying freely without a care in the world.”
“Yes, I’d like that,” she signed to him while standing up putting her jacket on.
Before they left James provided her with a thick wool overcoat to ward off the winter weather. It was not snowing at the present time, but the sky was an off white that had snow written all over it. And they were fortunate that there was no wind to speak of. Since no snow had fallen for a few days, the trail was beat down so walking was not so bad.
Mercy followed James to the canopied area where sitting was provided for whatever that person sought. As they sat down James pointed down the valley and signed that the grapes were now covered in protective snow to keep them from freezing.
Mercy signed back asking him if this was the place where he and God talked and the place where He parted the clouds to reveal a picture post card of a winter’s scene to not be surpassed. James nodded yes and then it happened.
As the clouds began parting, James realized what was happening, but Mercy was spellbound, first enchanted, then a bit scared, then she heard a voice in her head saying, "Yes, Mercy this is your Father in Heaven. We have a lot to discuss and you have a lot to consider so let's begin."
End of Part One: The Beginning of the End.
Begin Part Two: The Middle of the Beginning.
"Mercy Attwood, I've a proposal for you to think about. St. James here has more than served my expected results simply due to his belief in Me and the type of mankind I dreamed of creating. What I would like Mercy is for you to continue on with his work as it's time for St. James to make the final journey to spiritual Heaven. I know you have many questions but most of the answers you will find upon searching your inner self. Now I have to tend to some unfinished business. I'll be back with you in a day or so of your time."
Heaven for Nonbelievers Page 3
